Pentagon official wants to keep shaking up the Navy, Marines

Under Secretary of the Navy Thomas Modly speaks to Navy, Marine, and Coast Guard officers during the National Naval Officers Association symposium on Aug. 7 in San Diego. He addressed journalists Friday at the Military Reporters and Editors conference in Virginia on Friday. (Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jason Isaacs/Navy)

America’s foes are becoming far too capable and the Navy and Marine Corps must start plotting unconventionally to undermine them, Under Secretary of the Navy Thomas Modly said Friday.

The National Defense Strategy, which calls for shaking up how the Navy deploys is “a step in the right direction,” but Modly believes the sea services must make that operational in an era of great power competition keyed by the rise of China and Russia.